Favorite short musical moments in Williams scores?

[Mr. Hooper 5,019]

But did they ever nail it!

 

(Oops! Sorry for starting a new page...)

 

 

[BB-8 4,958]

These French horn glissandi would deserve a special thread.

 

On 28/07/2024 at 3:45 AM, Edmilson said:

Oh those poor brass players from the London Symphony Orchestra...

 

 

 

 

[RomanticStrings 18]

On 01/12/2023 at 7:30 PM, Damien F said:

 

I could be wrong but I always assumed they were Irish Uilleann bagpipes which would be JW hinting at Kennedy's Irish heritage. I can't really tell the difference between Irish pipes and Scottish ones though.

Those sounded like Scottish pipes to me—more of a parade-type instrument (even if the players are of Irish heritage).

[Brando 2,459]

I posted before about Hook's theme in Hook that is oh so good but I just remembered another short variation of it during the final battle: "It's time for Smee, hehehe", a funny moment and a great version of the Stick With Me theme.

 

 

[Schilkeman 1,442]

I know the opening of this cue is often compared to a part in Fellowship of the Ring, and it may very well be a temp-track holdover, but I always heard it as a call back to Yoda and the Younglings, only now synthesized, representing Anakin's transition from man to machine, physically as well as emotionally.

 

 

[Edmilson 10,434]

The End Titles suite from Attack of the Clones (the OST version, not that hack job that ended up in the final movie) is perhaps my favorite Star Wars end titles ever. Especially the ending part from 9:00 onwards when we get the Across the Stars theme on harpsichord and then a dark ending bridging Anakin's Theme from TPM to the Imperial March.

 

 

[Brando 2,459]

I absolutely despise the cut at 1:14....why he chose to completely cut one of the best parts of the entire score is beyond me. That rendition of the Emperor's Theme is probably my favorite version of it.

[Jay 42,358]

Yea snipping out that part if the wrap-up cue is too bad, but damn Edmilson's right the ending of this intended end credits is sooo good

[Andy 5,949]

I never bought those Prequel Remasters.  Were they any better than the original OST releases?  I remember the OT ones were controversial. 

[Brando 2,459]

5 hours ago, Andy said:

I never bought those Prequel Remasters.  Were they any better than the original OST releases?  I remember the OT ones were controversial. 

I don’t remember anything specific but I feel like I saw someone saying something negative about AOTC in particular, I could be wrong. @Manakin Skywalkercould probably answer your question.

[Jay 42,358]

15 hours ago, Andy said:

I never bought those Prequel Remasters.  Were they any better than the original OST releases?  I remember the OT ones were controversial. 

 

Nope no reason to buy them

[Tom 5,591]

On 12/08/2024 at 1:15 AM, Schilkeman said:

I know the opening of this cue is often compared to a part in Fellowship of the Ring, 

 

 

I once got into an argument with a guy who claimed that the music in Vader's awakening (Qui-Gon's funeral music) was a rip from Shore's trilogy music.  People are just sometimes dumb.  

[Muad'Dib 1,940]

Two bits from the same Tintin cue. First the little classical-sounding bit at:

 

 

And then at:

 

 

I particularly love that piano 1:06. Love that quick note succession! It's like a mini Piano concerto.

 

Also, been relistening to Tintin lately... Man, what a fun score! It's up there to me along with Prisoner of Azkaban.

[Brando 2,459]

One moment from Revenge of the Sith that lives rent free in my mind is the moment where the metal arm structure goes over the lava falls and Anakin has to run and jump off of it, sooooo good and delights my ear drums

 

 

[Meredith McKay 7,843]

On 17/08/2024 at 9:14 PM, Tom said:

I once got into an argument with a guy who claimed that the music in Vader's awakening (Qui-Gon's funeral music) was a rip from Shore's trilogy music.  People are just sometimes dumb.  

I mean...

 

 

[Tom 5,591]

1 hour ago, The Great Gonzales said:

I mean...

 

 

I don't disagree that music may have been ripped off, but you are killing me.  TPM came out in 1999.  LotR came out in 2001.  

[Meredith McKay 7,843]

6 minutes ago, Tom said:

I don't disagree that music may have been ripped off, but you are killing me.  TPM came out in 1999.  LotR came out in 2001.  

Ah, I wasn't referring to the Funeral Pyre thing, that IS stupid.

[Sunshine Reger 3,648]

this brief sacrificial chant in Incident at Isla Nublar (2:02+)

 

[RomanticStrings 18]

12 hours ago, Sunshine Reger said:

this brief sacrificial chant in Incident at Isla Nublar (2:02+)

 

I never thought of that as a sacrificial chant... but I suppose that is kind of what it was.

[Tom 5,591]

I may have posted this already, but the transition from the dissonant-leaning passage to the glorious entrance of the brass and hopeful main them is one of my favorite moments.  

 

 

[RomanticStrings 18]

I finally found one! I've wanted to share, but you guys got a lot of them already.

But at about 0:36 into "The Purpose of the Amendement" and really any moment like it (Saving Private Ryan has moments, like in "Omaha Beach" or "The Last Battle," I think), these are the moments that catch my breath and squeeze my chest.

 

[Edmilson 10,434]

Love some good old John Williams Americana

[Loert 2,942]

Watching the documentary I was reminded of how much I love this modulation at 7:27-7:32 in the E.T. chase scene:

 

 

The combination of the high strings and the horns, with that deep rumbling timpani in the background...pure bliss

[RomanticStrings 18]

Like Loert, the documentary reminded me of another favorite moment. In my case, it was the double-stop passage at the end of the second movement of the first Violin Concerto. I understand its import and emotion even more now, as well, considering Williams' feeling of closeness to his bride after her death. Using that moment to underscore that story, precisely timing its hopeful striving with the idea, was beautiful.

 

[Mr. Hooper 5,019]

Ah heck, the whole thing.

 

 

[artguy360 2,011]

20 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

Ah heck, the whole thing.

 

 

I love how the opening of this became Elegy. So heartbreakingly beautiful.

[Schilkeman 1,442]

The violin trills with the choir bits for color, and the call and response with (I believe) the violas. Lovely.

 

[Jurassic Shark 14,944]

On 28/07/2024 at 5:20 AM, Mr. Hooper said:

Oops! Sorry for starting a new page...

 

 

[Jesse 81]

I've always loved this little moment where, suddenly, an E-flat clarinet plays the Friendship theme in a high, piercing register. It happens while they're in the closet, threatening to rip the head off Gertie's toy.
I really like the scene itself because it feels so real—like how actual siblings would act.
And the music has such a nostalgic character, almost as if it's already looking back on this moment with nostalgia while it's still happening. (I don't know if that made much sense.)

At 0:58 

 

[RomanticStrings 18]

Here's another instance of that Friendship Theme and its rising secondary motif. I haven't gone through to see if this is already mentioned in the 21 pages of comments, but I feel this "ET, I love you" every time. I wouldn't have as a kid, because I didn't really get emotions then, but as a dad and husband, I do now.

 

[Jay 42,358]

On 04/05/2025 at 7:05 PM, Jesse said:

And the music has such a nostalgic character, almost as if it's already looking back on this moment with nostalgia while it's still happening. (I don't know if that made much sense.)

 

It makes perfect sense!

[BachSkywalker 106]

The first 39 seconds of this or so is just sublime. Love that lush string writing. It's so simple, tender and beautifully conveys the emotion of the scene. 

 

 

[Tom 5,591]

13 hours ago, RomanticStrings said:

 I wouldn't have as a kid, because I didn't really get emotions then, but as a dad and husband, I do now.

 

No longer being a sociopath is tight.   

[RomanticStrings 18]

On 06/05/2025 at 10:40 PM, Tom said:

No longer being a sociopath is tight.   

I can't say I didn't have them, but I certainly wasn't in tune and didn't understand or recognize them...

But you're right. It's nice to know they're there.

[Darth Mulder 157]

 

This drum beat

[BB-8 4,958]

On 08/06/2025 at 12:47 AM, Darth Mulder said:

 

This drum beat

 

Don Williams?